David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss 1610-1679

Before September 1610 [his father] John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss [aged 24] and [his mother] Jane Gray Countess Wemyss were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 6th September 1610 David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss was born to John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss [aged 24] and Jane Gray Countess Wemyss. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In July 1625 David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 14] and Anna Balfour were married. He the son of John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss [aged 39] and Jane Gray Countess Wemyss.

In 1628 [his father] John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss [aged 42] was created 1st Earl Wemyss. [his mother] Jane Gray Countess Wemyss by marriage Countess Wemyss.

On 13th June 1637 Alexander Leslie [aged 26] and [his future wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of John Leslie 6th Earl Rothes [aged 37] and Anne Erskine Countess of Rothes [aged 40]. He the son of Alexander Leslie 1st Earl Leven [aged 57].

In 1639 [his mother] Jane Gray Countess Wemyss died.

On 25th July 1646 Francis Scott 2nd Earl Buccleuch [aged 19] and [his future wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 26] were married. She by marriage Countess Buccleuch. She the daughter of John Leslie 6th Earl Rothes and Anne Erskine Countess of Rothes. He the son of Walter Scott 1st Earl Buccleuch and Mary Hay Countess Buccleuch. They were half third cousins.

In 1649 [his father] John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss [aged 63] died. His son David [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Earl Wemyss. [his future wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 28] by marriage Countess Wemyss.

In 1649 [his wife] Anna Balfour died.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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In April 1650 David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 39] and Helenor Fleming were married. She the daughter of John Fleming 2nd Earl Wigtown and Margaret Livingston Countess Wigtown. He the son of John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss and Jane Gray Countess Wemyss. They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 13th January 1653 David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 42] and Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 32] were married. She the daughter of John Leslie 6th Earl Rothes and Anne Erskine Countess of Rothes. He the son of John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss and Jane Gray Countess Wemyss. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 30th December 1656 [his step-son] Alexander Leslie 2nd Earl Leven [aged 19] and Margaret Howard Countess Leven [aged 21] were married. He the son of Alexander Leslie and [his wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 36].

On 1st January 1659 [his daughter] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss was born to David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 48] and [his wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 38]. She married (1) 28th March 1672 James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland and had issue (2) after December 1682 George Mackenzie 1st Earl Cromartie.

On 11th August 1659 [his son-in-law] George Gordon 15th Earl Sutherland [aged 25] and Jean Wemyss Countess Sutherland were married. She the daughter of David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 48] and Anna Balfour. He the son of John Gordon 14th Earl Sutherland [aged 50].

After 7th January 1661 [his sister-in-law] Mary Leslie Countess of Eglinton [deceased] died.

On 11th March 1661 [his step-daughter] Mary Scott 3rd Countess Buccleuch [aged 13] died. Her sister Anne [aged 10] succeeded 4th Countess Buccleuch.

On 4th April 1661 Alexander Leslie 1st Earl Leven [aged 81] died. His grandson [his step-son] Alexander [aged 23] succeeded 2nd Earl Leven. Margaret Howard Countess Leven [aged 26] by marriage Countess Leven.

On 20th April 1663 James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch [aged 14] and [his step-daughter] Anne Scott Duchess Monmouth and Buccleuch [aged 12] were married. She by marriage Duchess Monmouth. She the daughter of Francis Scott 2nd Earl Buccleuch and [his wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 42]. He the illegitmate son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 32] and Lucy Walter. They were fifth cousins.

On 15th July 1664 [his step-son] Alexander Leslie 2nd Earl Leven [aged 27] died.

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

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On 28th March 1672 [his son-in-law] James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 15] and Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 61] and Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 51].

In July 1679 David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 68] died at Wemyss Castle. His daughter Margaret [aged 20] succeeded 3rd Countess Wemyss. James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 22] by marriage Earl Wemyss.

In February 1688 [his former wife] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 67] died.

[his daughter] Jean Wemyss Countess Sutherland was born to David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss and Anna Balfour. She married 11th August 1659 George Gordon 15th Earl Sutherland, son of John Gordon 14th Earl Sutherland, and had issue.

David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss 1610-1679 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Royal Ancestors of David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss 1610-1679

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 14 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 4 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 2 Grand Son of King James V of Scotland

Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 22 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Kings Spain: Great x 14 Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon

Ancestors of David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss 1610-1679

Great x 1 Grandfather: David Wemyss

Grandfather: John Wemyss

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ruthven 1st Lord Ruthven

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ruthven

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Livingstone

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Ruthven 2nd Lord Ruthven

Great x 1 Grandmother: Cecilia Ruthven

Great x 3 Grandfather: Patrick Halyburton 4th Lord Dirletoun

Great x 2 Grandmother: Janet Halyburton Lady Dirletoun

father: John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss 6 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale 4 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandfather: James Stewart of Beath 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Kennedy 2nd Lord Kennedy Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Kennedy Lady Avondale 2 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon Countess Erroll 10 x Great Granddaughter of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Stewart 1st Lord Doune 4 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Lindsay 3rd Lord Lindsay of the Byres 2 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Stewart Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Lindsay 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Baillie of Lamington

Great x 3 Grandmother: Marion Baillie

Grandmother: Mary Stewart 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Colin Campbell 3rd Earl Argyll 4 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stewart Countess Argyll 10 x Great Granddaughter of King David I of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 4th Earl Argyll 5 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 3rd Earl Huntley 11 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jean or Janet Gordon Countess Argyll 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jean Stewart Countess Huntley 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Campbell 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Graham 2nd Earl Menteith 2 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Graham 3rd Earl Menteith 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Graham Countess Argyll 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss 2 x Great Grandson of King James V of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Gray 2nd Lord Gray 9 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Gray of Buttergask 10 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Patrick Gray 4th Lord Gray 11 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Patrick Gray 5th Lord Gray 5 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Ogilvy 3rd Lord Ogilvy of Airlie 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Ogilvy 4th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie 4 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lindsay 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Marion Ogilvy 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair 2 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandmother: Helen Sinclair 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hepburn

Grandfather: Patrick Gray 6th Lord Gray 6 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

mother: Jane Gray Countess Wemyss Great Granddaughter of King James V of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: King James III of Scotland son of King James II of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: King James IV of Scotland son of King James III of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandfather: King James V of Scotland son of King James IV of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry VII of England and Ireland Great Grandson of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth York Queen Consort England daughter of King Edward IV of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Stewart 1st Earl Orkney son of King James V of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Euphame Elphinstone

Grandmother: Mary Stewart Lady Gray Granddaughter of King James V of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: David Kennedy 1st Earl Cassilis 2 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Kennedy 2nd Earl Cassilis 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Kennedy 3rd Earl Cassilis 4 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jean Kennedy Countess Orkney 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Kennedy 3rd of Bargany 2 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Kennedy of Bargany 3 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Kennedy 2 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Kennedy Countess Cassilis 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland